Submission Process Review Process and Notification Presenter Requirements Example of Topic Areas Session Formats HRCI Pre-Aproval Questions

Submission Process

Proposals must be submitted using IPAC’s online submission system. 

To register with the system, you will need to provide your email address and create a password to log in to the system.  Please select a password that you will remember.

A submission has two components: (1) an online form that you will complete outlining the proposal, providing basic information about the presenters, and providing learning objectives for HRCI accreditation; (2) a narrative summary describing the content of the presentation.

To complete the online form, you must provide:

• Title of the presentation
• Presenter/Author name(s) and contact information
• Abstract:  Provide a short statement that clearly describes the session’s content and format and states why it will be of interest to IPAC conference attendees.  Your abstract will be printed in the Conference Program if the proposal is accepted for presentation. Length: 50 words for a paper presentation or student poster; 150 words for all other submissions.
• Topic Area(s) of your presentation to help us match proposals to reviewers and schedule sessions. The system will provide a list to choose from.
• Session Type (i.e., paper presentation, symposium, panel discussion, tutorial, or student poster). The system will provide a list to choose from.
• Session Length Requested (i.e., 30, 45, 60, 90 minutes). The system will provide a list to choose from.
• Session Focus (i.e., applied, academic). The system will provide a list to choose from. Select all that apply.
• Audience Level (i.e., basic, intermediate, advanced). The system will provide a list to choose from.
• HRCI Information: Each year IPAC submits the conference program for approval by HRCI. If approved, conference presentations attended will count towards continuing SHRM certification. For your submission, please provide a brief bio for each speaker and THREE one-sentence learning objectives.
• • Speaker Bios (limit 250 characters)
  • THREE Learning Objectives: Learning objectives must be linked to a Functional Area, a Responsibility within that Functional Area, and Knowledge Area(s). Include the name of the Functional Area, number of the Responsibility within that Functional Area, and the number(s) that best describe the Knowledge Area(s) your proposal covers.  Click here to see the exam content (Functional Areas, Responsibilities, and Knowledge).
• Proposal (i.e., Narrative Summary): Upload a file containing a narrative summary of your proposal. Acceptable file formats include: .doc, .docx, and .pdf. To enable a blind review of the proposals, please ensure that presenter names do not appear in the written summary you upload. Length: 250 to 500 words for paper presentations and student posters; 250 to 1,000 words for symposia, panel discussions, and tutorials. 

After submitting your online form and proposal, you will receive a confirmation email including a proposal ID.  You may log in to the system to make revisions to your proposal until 5:00pm (PST) January 16, 2015.

Review Process and Notification

Proposals will be reviewed by the Program Committee for technical soundness, theoretical and/or practical significance, and interest to the conference attendees.  You will be notified by e-mail regarding acceptance/rejection of your proposal.  Please be sure to include an accurate e-mail address for the presenter who wishes to receive correspondence regarding this submission.

Presenter Requirements

All presenters mustundefined

·         Register for the conference. 

·         Provide an electronic copy (i.e., a PDF, PowerPoint, or word processor file) of their presentation to the Program Committee prior to the conference.  We will make these documents available to attendees and IPAC members via our conference website.  Presenters are not required to provide paper handouts to session attendees.

Examples of Topic Areas

All topics in the area of personnel assessment, including selection, legal issues, performance management, training and development, and leadership and succession planning are welcome at the conference.  IPAC recognizes the value of assessment across the HR continuum as HR fulfils its role of strategic partner in the organization’s pursuit of its mission, vision, and business goals.  Examples of potential program topics include:

Challenges and Innovations in Personnel Assessment

As organizations and the nature of work continue to change, how are personnel assessment practitioners meeting the challenge?  What innovative approaches have been employed to handle issues such as the assessment of teams and the use of non-traditional assessment techniques?

Programs and Practices Demonstrating Excellence in Assessment

The focus of this program component is on sharing “sound practices” with colleagues.  Have you developed an effective program to address a specific personnel assessment challenge? Have you designed a leadership development program to address today’s challenges? What steps have you taken to ensure your performance management program promotes employee development?

Strategies/Techniques for Managing the Assessment Function

The focus of this component is on the management of the assessment program.  What approaches have you found to be effective in managing an assessment program that meets legal and professional standards as well as the needs of your organization/client? Have you incorporated assessment into leadership development? Have you developed a telework program to ensure employee engagement and success?

Responses to Change/Role of Assessment Professionals

What strategies have you employed to meet the challenges of civil service reform, regulatory changes, quality initiatives, and/or downsizing?  How is the assessment function impacted by environmental changes, and how do assessment professionals assist in facilitating these changes?  Has the assessment function had a role in change management in your organization?

Information Technology in Personnel Assessment

How is the use of information technology changing capabilities in personnel assessment?  How have video, computer-based, and Internet testing been incorporated into selection programs?  How can we use technology to enhance and expand training and development opportunities?

Assessment-Related Research

What research projects have you been involved with, either in a workplace or academic setting?  Have you, or someone you know, recently completed a thesis or dissertation on a topic related to personnel assessment?

Session Formats

Session formats include symposia, panel discussions, tutorials, paper presentations and student posters and are described as follows.

Symposium (Typical length: 1 or 1½ hours)

A symposium is a group of usually three to five presenters, each of whom makes a presentation on the selected topic or problem.  Effective configurations of presenters include: (1) individuals from different work settings to discuss their experiences with a given problem; (2) individuals with different opinions or interpretations of the problem; (3) individuals offering alternative solutions to the problem; and (4) individuals with in-depth knowledge of different aspects of the problem.

Length: Abstract (150 words), Proposal Narrative Summary (MIN: 250 words; MAX: 1,000 words)

Panel Discussion (Typical length: 1 or 1½ hours)

In contrast to a symposium, a panel discussion is designed to generate spontaneous interaction among participants and between participants and the audience.  The chairperson of a panel discussion must be knowledgeable about the topic to serve as a moderator, pose pertinent questions to participants, ensure that each panelist has the opportunity to speak, and guide the flow of the discussion.  Although diversity of perspectives among panelists is often a key to success, panels that present innovations, programs, or research are also appropriate.   Proposals must describe: (1) the themes to be discussed; (2) questions to be addressed: and (3) the proposed session’s structure.

Length: Abstract (150 words), Proposal Narrative Summary (MIN: 250 words; MAX: 1,000 words)

Tutorial (Typical length: 1½ hours)

A tutorial provides in-depth coverage of a topic. Tutorials aim to help the target audience develop new skills or enhance existing skills.  Tutorials are not lectures; they should be interactive sessions that afford an opportunity to gain “hands on” experience applying new skills and to discuss problems and issues related to the subject. A tutorial may be presented by one or more persons.  Proposals must describe: (1) the audience level for which they are appropriate (i.e., beginner or advanced); and (2) the interactive activities planned.

Length: Abstract (150 words), Proposal Narrative Summary (MIN: 250 words; MAX: 1,000 words)

Paper Presentation (Typical length: 30, 45, or 60 minutes)

Proposals for individual paper presentations may also be submitted.  Participants need not have completed a formal research paper for publication; instead the proposal may take the form of an executive summary or write-up of a topic of interest.  If the proposal focuses on empirical research, the proposal must describe the study’s contribution to the field and methodology used for data collection. The Program Committee will assign accepted proposals to a session comprising two to four presentations on related topics and designate a session chairperson or discussant, as appropriate.

Length: Abstract (50 words), Proposal Narrative Summary (MIN: 250 words; MAX: 500 words)

Student Poster (Length: 60 minutes) NEW!!!

Students may also submit proposals for the student poster session. This session is NEW this year!  The poster session is designed for current students to showcase their academic or applied work in any of the topic areas listed above. Submissions typically include completed research, applied projects, or theoretical work.  In-progress research/applied projects may be featured if data collection is underway; however, authors must present completed work at the time of the conference.

Length: Abstract (50 words), Proposal Narrative Summary (MIN: 250 words; MAX: 500 words)

HRCI Pre-approval

All sessions included in the IPAC conference will be submitted for HRCI approval for recertification credit.  All authors are required to provide the necessary information for their proposal to establish HRCI credit within one of the PHR/SPHR Exam Functional Areas by providing at least three one-sentence learning objectives directly tied to the body of knowledge covered by the PHR/SPHR exams.  Click here to see the exam content (Functional Areas, Responsibilities, and Knowledge).  If your session has been previously approved for HRCI credit, please provide any information that we can use to assist HRCI with our approval process, such as the session approval code, sponsoring organization, event, date, and location where the presentation was previously given.

Questions?

Questions about the proposal process and/or conference planning activities may be directed to the Conference Program Committee at conference@ipacweb.org.

Proposals are due by 5:00 PM PST on January 16, 2015. Click here to submit a proposal on or after November 12, 2014.